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Alexandria

Called “The Heart of Louisiana” for its central location, Alexandria and the surrounding area boasts a thriving sportsman’s culture. The best way to explore the region’s amazing outdoor opportunities, including the Kisatchie National Forest, is by traversing one of its five Louisiana bike trails. Pedal past plantation homes, through a former Army base and by the shore of Kincaid Lake.

This trail is for bikers and hikers only, with trailheads at the Town Hall in Woodworth and at the Valentine Lake Recreation Area. There are many points where you can join the trail, so you can determine the trail length according to your preference.

Traveling from the east boat launch on the Lakeshore Trail, visitors will enjoy a hiking-biking trail that meanders near and away from the shoreline of Kincaid Lake. If you are the first visitor of the day, you may see many spider webs across the trail. This is especially noticeable while biking. Please respect private property borders because their are a few plots of private property near the trail. Lovely views of the lake, photo opportunities and wildlife encounters abound.

Surrounded by the Kisatchie National Forest, the 26-mile trail system on this former Army base was built for endurance competitions and is still used as a course for mountain bikes. Sandy terrain helps the trails hold up in wet weather, but some areas are rough and rutted nonetheless. The Calcasieu Ranger District manages the trail system in this area where some 500,000 troops trained for World War II.

This route touches some of the oldest communities in Louisiana as it runs near bayous that brought settlers here in the 1800s. Along the way antebellum homes sit among graceful oak and cypress trees. Small towns feature historic sites and cafés that offer home-style food. Stop at historic plantations that include Loyd Hall, Newhope and Walnut Grove.